We are YACHTFISH

Experience | Focus | Passion

We are YACHTFISH

Experience | Focus | Passion

Welcome to YACHTFISH!

We are a highly experienced, focused and passionate team of professionals delivering custom boating and travel adventures for our clients. As the name implies, yachting and fishing are the cornerstones of our business, with a personal touch. We offer every kind of fishing charter experience you could ask for, from deep sea charters to inshore fishing.

Why choose YACHTFISH

Proven Tampa Bay and Costa Rica EXPERIENCE

The Client’s safety and enjoyment are the FOCUS

We have a PASSION for what we do

Our fleet and equipment are always new or in like-new condition

Have your own Private Captain

Custom boat maintenance programs to protect your investment

We strive for perfection and achieve excellence

Our experience

Captaining - 10+ years

Fishing - 25+ years

Costa Rica - 23+ years

Loving and enjoying life - Since Birth

What We Specialize In

Tampa Bay Fishing

YACHTFISH provides spectacular inshore and offshore Tampa Bay Fishing on its own fleet of custom boats. Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater Florida are renowned for their abundant species of inshore and offshore fish in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, grouper, kingfish, amberjack, pompano, snapper, tuna, mahi-mahi, cobia and more call Tampa Bay home. Our focus and passion come from over 25 years of experience fishing the Tampa Bay area.

Costa Rica Vacations

Los Suenos Resort and Marina is home base for our YACHTFISH Costa Rica Vacations. The Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica is often referred to as the billfish capital of the world. We design travel adventures for our Clients that include activities such as epic big game sport fishing, canopy tours, ATV adventures, crocodile safaris, monkey tours and more. We coordinate ground transportation and offer a wide selection of luxury accommodations in the famous Los Suenos Resort and Marina. We have YACHTFISH support on site to ensure every Client has the time of their life.

Private Client Services

The Private Client Services group assists yacht owners with developing customized plans designed specifically for their vessel and personal boating preferences. Services include custom maintenance plans, Private Captain Services for fishing trips and vacation destinations, in-water yacht transfers, corporate boating events, marine consulting and more. Simply walk on and walk off. Just the way you like it.

Our Team Leader

Matt Douglas

Founder & Captain

Captain Matt Douglas is the founder of YACHTFISH and is a licensed United States Coast Guard 100 ton Master Captain. Captain Matt grew up on the waters of Tampa Bay and lived and worked in Costa Rica for over 11 years. He has extensive experience in Central America, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Florida. Captain Matt is a tournament-winning captain who has an intense passion for boating, fishing and creating life time memories for his Clients. These passions, combined with his experience, were the catalysts for YACHTFISH. Captain Matt is laser-focused on what he enjoys the most, and knows the best, in Tampa Bay and Costa Rica.

My wife and I happened across Capt. Matt during our anniversary. Fishing was not on the agenda but we figured we'd splurge on a little private charter. I am a local fisherman and have been fishing the Tampa Bay Area for over 30 years, so I am not the easiest person to please on a fishing trip. Captain Matt's intimate knowledge of the local waters was very evident as it did not take him long to put us on the fish. What was most impressive was his level of attentiveness. He kept our hooks baited and lines in the water at all times. We caught plenty of fish, Matt cleaned them soon as we docked, and enjoyed an awesome fish dinner right at the local restaurant on the dock. Amazing day, awesome experience!!!read more

Captain Matt was great. Left 15 mins before scheduled time, caught plenty of fish (my wife schooled me, hooking up way more often than I did). Thanks for the good time, will be back to schedule a corporate event soon.

Captain Garrett was great during our inshore half day fishing trip! He put us on fish right away and by the time the trip was over we caught 70 fish of over 8 different species. We will definitely be back to fish with Captain Garrett again. 5 stars highly recommend!!read more

Definitely recommended booking these guys. Caught a ton, overall fantastic experience. I should also mention a cold front came in the night before so we didn’t have high expectations, however we started hooking up trout within a few minutes of stopping at our first spot. Those that were on the water didn’t look to be catching much compared to us. Will definitely book again next time in St Pete.read more

We had the most amazing day fishing with Captain Matt! When we were looking for a fishing trip it was important to us that the entire family could be active and involved in the fishing. The trip did not disappoint in the least!!! There was excitement, tons of laughs, total moments of awe with the nature of the ocean. Our kids woke up the next day ready to go again! We will definitely go again!read more

Our group was in town for business and the snook fishing trip was a great way to cap it off. We caught some big snooks! Everyone had a great experience and plan to do this again next time we are in town for work. The captain was very friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely, recommend this to anyone in town for work or pleasure!read more

Captain Matt was awesome, he was informative on all the questions we had prior and during our adventure. He's a very people person talks like he's known you for a long time, not just another boring captain we have encountered in the past. We will definitely be back again in the future.read more

We had captain Garret (who I just realized was cool enough to let me call him Gary 🤦🏼‍♀️ Haha) He was the best! He knew great fishing spots and was extremely knowledgeable. The best part was I loved how excited he got about fishing! I’m so happy we got to go out with him he definitely made our trip memorable. If your going to pick a charter this one is more than worth it!read more

WOW!!!! This trip was such a thrill. Captain Matt was amazing. He took us quickly out to a great spot and got our poles in the water. We had so much fun catching our limit of some beautiful mackerel and my grandson even caught a shark. This is the first time in my life I have ever walked away from a fishing trip having never baited a hook. Captain Matt took care of everything with such proficiency it was astonishing. I would definitely recommend YACHTFISH Fishing Charters for your group!read more

Wow! Yhatfish did not disappoint. I had so much fun going inshore and offshore fishing with Yhatfish during my stay in St. Petersburg. Matt and crew are very knowledgable, and they provided a safe and fun experience. It was my first time in St. Petersburg, and it was nice to learn about the town and the different types of fish that inhabit the waters there. Whether you want to go with your friends or take your family... I promise you will not be disappointed. You can't step on a Yhatfish charter and not have fun. I still daydream of the fresh tuna we caught. Some of the best I ever had in my life! I promise you will have a good time fishing with Yhatfish! No other charter even compares.read more

We highly recommend Yachtfish Fishing Charters. Captain Matt donated a fishing trip to our silent auction and is a constant supporter of our rescue.
His fishing trips are always excited and fun. Captain Matt is very knowledge and makes sure everyone has a memorable fishing experience.
Mastiff Rescue of Fl 🐾🐾🐾🐾read more

Had the best experience ever!!!! Great time, and they really knew where the fish were! I caught a huge red fish, shark, and some snook! I highly recommend them! Captain Patrick and Nathan rocked!!!! Will do it again very soon :)

What an amazing experience we had with YACHTFISH Fishing Charters! Captain Matt Douglas made our day a win of epic proportions, we couldn't have asked for any better. We were on a variety fish ALL DAY LONG! We can't wait to do it again, Thank You Very Much!read more

What Great Trip!- We decided to go on a half day trip in the Bay. Garret, our Captain knew all the local spots. We had experienced and not so experienced friends fishing in our group and everyone caught plenty of fish, it made having fun easy. Garret had us wanting for nothing. I highly recommend this trip.read more

1st time using Yachtfish as charter. Had a great time in the Bay w/ Captain Garett. Even though the bite was slow, he was knowledgeable with the current area and was able to find a spot to get us a couple of keepers. Highly recommend this charter and Captain Garett.read more

Such a fun day fishing with Capt Garrett and Capt Pat. Had our sons (8 & 10) catching fish within minutes. For our first fishing charter this was very memorable. We cauggt trout, snapper, mackerel, catfish and we even caught 2 sharks!! Capt Pat cleaned and gutted our fish and recommended Frescos (walking distance from the charter) to cook our fish for us; which was a delicious and affordable choice. Thank you for a fun day on the bay!!read more

Went out with Garett and Patrick and had an amazing time. Great captaining kept us out of the weather and fishing the whole time. We got a couple sharks, one about 100 lbs and a great fight... we also got Mackeral, Snapper, Trout and more on some markers and flats. They know the good spots and how to keep the fish excited and biting. Great experience for the family and delicious meal after at the guys recommended restaurant that cooked our catch perfectly! We are 'hooked'. Thanks!read more

Best fishing trip ever! We went out with Captain Garrett McFall out of St. Pete FL and had a great time. Our two sons (8 and 9) caught lots of fish and learned a ton about the bay.
Don't hesitate to book with Yachtfish, you will have a Blast!

What an amazing day out deep sea fishing in St. Petersburg with YACHTFISH Fishing Charters! 6 of us enjoyed the day catching our limit in Snapper. We also caught a variety of other fish, including but not limited to Gag Grouper, Cobia, Black Fin Tuna, and Red Grouper. Captain Matt and his mate Gavon were spot on with everything the whole day, they had every angle covered. They quickly put us on the fish and kept us on them all day long, I've never seen anything like it.
The boat (a 33' Invincible) and all the equipment were in immaculate condition and noticeably very well maintained. Seeing that I'm fairly new to deep sea fishing, I had a lot of questions to ask throughout the day as I tried to soak in as much knowledge as possible (imagine Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone). Both Gavon and Matt were very patient with me and the two kids in our group, I was probably more difficult than the kids in reality.
After our jam-packed day of fishing, we had the pleasure of going over to Frescos which is within walking distance of YACHTFISH's Slip. While we were enjoying some of the Snapper and Grouper that we caught, which was cooked to perfection by the Frescos kitchen, YACHTFISH cleaned and bagged all our fish for us to fill our freezers with. They even took the time to separate the varieties for us which made it easy dividing it all up.
This was truly the best fishing charter experience I have ever had in my life. We can't wait to do it again!!!
Thank you VERY much Captain Matt & Gavon, you guys rock!read more

Yachtfish is stellar! Captain Matt Douglas is very professional, knowledgeable, courteous and always knows where to find fish. He goes out of his way to ensure that his customers have the very best experience. His boats are ultra clean and modern. We are regular customers and highly recommend him.read more

Where do we even start with reviewing Yacht Fish fishing charters? If you want a full day of fishing, fun and sun don't even think about booking with anybody else. We can't even say enough to describe how amazing of a day we had offshore catching every fish you could even imagine left and right. Our guides Matt and Scotty were beyond helpful and determined to make sure we had a kick ass day out there. Our hooks were tended to before we even had them out of the water if they didn't have a stud of a fish on them. Matt made sure my girlfriends first time offshore fishing was nothing short of perfect and everything a great day of fishing should be. Coming in with a box that barely closed because it was so full was not what we expected but enjoyed every fight and catch. We are officially loyal YachtFish guests and they really made it impossible to compete with their charter.read more

WOW! What a day! I am a FL
Native, but Matt taught me in 4 hours than I thought I knew for 40 years! Super patient w/all my questions and then we caught several snook within the trip. If u get a chance to book YACHTFISH do it immediately, you definitely won’t be disappointed!read more

I am a local fisherman and went out with Yachtfish this past Sunday. We had a heck of a day and caught Mackerel, Snook and a Monster Redfish (39 inches) . The guides were extremely knowledgeable and put us on fish all afternoon.
I highly recommend using Yachtfish for your charter needs.read more

I have been on a lot of fishing charters in my day and even have part ownership in a fishing team. The capt and owner both went out of there way to insure we had an amazing day on the water! Got 2 keeper cobia, dozen plus jacks, and even 7 snook! All in a half day trip. These guys know what there doing and put us on the fish from the second we got on the boat! Would highly recommend this company to anyone who is serious about catching fish! Extremely proffessional at every turn! First class company and people ALL THE WAY! CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN!read more

January 10, 2018 was my second time out with Captain Matt and Garrett of Yachtfish. First trip was this past June, Tarpon fishing. They are the absolute best. Matt came highly recommended and they has been amazing both times. They work hard to get you on the fish, and it’s like a day on the water with a couple of your close friends. We were on the fish from the start this trip and it was non-stop for 4 hours. Trout, Ladyfish and Sheepshead were biting all afternoon long. 2 Sheepshead became dinner about an hour after the trip. Being down in Tampa on business from Michigan in January, this was a well needed afternoon on the water in the sun and 75 degrees. Thx Matt and Garrett! I’ll be seeing you soon!read more

Captain Patrick showed us a great time. We laughed and caught fish all afternoon. You can’t go wrong with Yachtfish and their great service. This is my second with Matt and his staff, fishing in-shore. Next time will be an off-shore trip.

We had a amazing time today fishing with Captain Garett! We caught red snapper, trout and sheepshead to take home and a bunch of other fish that was fun to catch. Garrett was knowledgeable about the fish and waters. We took my my 82 father out on the water and he had a blast. The boat is perfect! Captain Matt booked my excursion and followed up with me every step of the way. We’re from
Michigan and we will be back to book another trip out to the Gulf. Thank you Yacht Fish for making our fishing trip a great memory!read more

As an ex- charter boat owner and operator from Broome Western Australia, I expect a lot.
And when you have the bar raised this high you tend to be disappointed in how other operators treat you and run their operations.
We’ll I was pleasantly surprised that was not the case with Captain Matt and his crew.
Their level of local knowledge and experience was comforting and ensured me I’d made a the right decision when I chose to go with Yacht Fish Charters.
They know their stuff and will put you on the fish.
RickyDread more

My first time and I have to say it won't be my last! This trip was an awesome experience and we were on fish the entire time! I can't wait to come back! I want to thank captain Matt and Garrett for their great service!

Matt and Garrett were fantastic! We had three kids with us and they were very attentive to them yet still allowed them to do as much as possible for the full experience. We would definitely recommend them to anyone! Thanks guys!

Highly recommend. Capt. Matt was excellent. He was patient with myself as a new fisherman, energetic, and very knowledgeable about his fishing spots!
My wife, son, and I were impressed with his friendliness, ability to take us to several very active fishing spots, and his real sense of customer service. His boat was immaculately clean, as was he and his assistant. They didn't use foul language, drink, or in any other way act as "old fishermen" may tend to be regarded.
Without a doubt, it was a great experience and well worth the money. I would recommend Yachtfish to anyone from the novice to the experienced. I garenteed you will enjoy yourself, and learn a lot.read more

Best charter I have ever been on. We went out for 4hrs this morning and they had us on the fish in less than 20 minutes and were on them the whole time. In about 3 hours my father in law and i caught about 50 snook, 2 mangrove snappers, and 3 nice reds. Great experience all around.read more

Unbelievable! In under 2 hours, with my daughter (10) and I we caught 4 snapper, 5 mackerel, a pin fish, and 14 sharks! Captain Matt did an outandting job taking us to the right areas, and make every step of the day easy and fun. Beautiful boat with top notch equipment. Highly recommended for any day trip fishers.read more

Great time, hands down! Matt and Garett are great guys and know their hometown waters beyond expectations. They took us to all the spots and we were hitting all day. I was skeptical at first with all the charters in the area, but these guys know their waters. Would recommend them to anyone!read more

Capt. Matt Douglas always puts us on the fish every time with the best equipment and highest quality boats and is one of the most professional and prepared charter captains in the business today. I would highly recommend Capt. Douglas for either inshore, Tarpon, or offshore fishing for any species you prefer to target if you want to catch 'em.read more

Been fortunate enough to charter Matt Douglas at Yachtfish on several occasions. Every trip was fantastic and very productive....Matt always puts us on fish. The Yachtfish team is very courteous and professional. They can help any level fisherman catch fish and have an enjoyable and safe time on the water.read more

My nephew and his fiancé came down for a long weekend and had booked fishing trip with Captain Matt. It was my first experience, my nephew had done this before somewhere else. We had a fabulous time caught snook and trout, tried for tarpon but no luck. The entire day was a great experience. All three of us can't wait to go back. Captain Matt and his mate Garret were so helpful and attentive to our experience. If we had questions they were so willing answer and help. Will definitely go again and share with friends and highly recommend.
Colleen Farmer.read more

First time ever fishing with Yachtfish this past Saturday and it was a day to remember catching my first Tarpon. Captain Matt and Garrett were great. They worked hard to try and find the fish in different locations and with different bait. Patience paid off as I landed my first ever Tarpon on one of the most beautiful days I have ever had on the water. Captain Matt came highly recommended and he did not disappoint. My only problem is trying to figure out when I can get down to Tampa and get out fishing with them again. I can honestly say I am addicted to Tarpon fishing after only one time. Thank you Matt & Garrett!!!read more

went out with Matt on 5/23/2017.The weather did not look to good, waves in the 6ft. range, but Matt. found a little calmer water with fish. Then we started to catch fish, one a 90lb. Tarpon , witch is what we came for.This trip ended up great, when it seems to start off rough, Matt. and the mate did a great job. Going to try to make it back soon.read more

Great time. Lots of fish. Took my girls & wife.
Recommend for the family. Matt has great patience, the fire extinguisher went off, wife's fishing line in trolling motor and Captain Matt didn't bat an eye, just kept right on guiding. His first mate Scotty was great as well, never had an empty hook. We will definitely be hiring them again!read more

My friend Robin and I were fortunate to spend a glorious morning in the bay with Matt and Garrett. I would describe our fishing knowledge of this area as novice. Matt put us on fish quickly and we did catch some nice looking kingfish. The boat is immaculate and the gear was in great shape. We could not have asked for a better experience. Thanks again Matt!😎read more

Capt Matt is amazing inshore as well as going offshore. We have never been disappointed in our many trips with him. He always seems to work hard for his customer. That shows because we always have the best live bait, and he knows where to use it. Great with younger fisherman as well, and so I highly recommend him for anyone looking for a great fishing trip on or around Tampa Bay.read more

I have been on a private charter before, but Yachtfish is hands down the BEST! I had the best experience with Captain Matt. I went offshore for the first time with Captain Matt and Garrett few weeks ago with my daughter. They are both very experienced and professional. They both were so wonderful with my daughter, teaching her the different types of fish. This was her first time fishing, and they both were very patient with her. She caught four fish in about 10 minutes. She was so excited and can’t wait to go again. I will be taking my dad out for Father’s Day! Such a great way to spend time with family!
Thank You Captain Matt and Garrett, for such an amazing day!read more